Weapons

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  for what reason the inventories of weapons decommissioned by loyalist and republican paramilitaries under the Supervision of the Independent International Decommissioning Commission have been deposited at Boston College, USA; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  on what date it was agreed that the inventories of weapons decommissioned by loyalist and republican paramilitaries under the supervision of the Independent International Decommissioning Commission should be transferred to the US State Department; who made that decision; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if she will publish the inventories of weapons decommissioned by loyalist and republican paramilitaries under the supervision of the Independent International Decommissioning Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Government do not hold the aforementioned inventory. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) was established through an agreement between the UK and Irish Governments in August 1997. Article 2 (1) of that Agreement made clear that
	“The Commission shall be independent in the performance of its functions”.
	As an independent body the IICD chose not to publish its inventory of arms decommissioned for reasons set out in its final report to the UK and Irish Governments published on 4 July 2011. Instead, it took the decision to deposit the inventory of weapons decommissioned by loyalist and republican paramilitaries with the United States Department of State for safe retention. The inventory was never held by Boston college.

Arthritis

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of rheumatoid arthritis specialist nurses working in the NHS; if he will take steps to increase that number; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The current number of rheumatoid arthritis specialist nurses employed by the national health service is not collected centrally.
	The Government has supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing. It is for local NHS organisations with their knowledge of the healthcare needs of their local population to invest in training for specialist skills and to deploy specialist nurses. In this context, the Government recognises that more should be done by some local healthcare organisations to prioritise preventative care and to provide better support for patients in their own homes and communities. Specialist nurses can play an role in the delivery of community base care, which can both save the NHS. money and, more importantly, provide better care for patients.
	We do hold information on the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health-visiting staff employed by the NHS, which is available from the Health and Social Care Information Centre annual work force census, however the speciality requested is not collected separately.

Diabetes

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the written answer to the hon. Member for Torbay of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 451W, on diabetes research, if he will publish the most recent data on National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) spending in the Health Research Clarification System (HRCS) health categories; if he will request that NIHR publishes a statement of research funding allocated to (a) Type one diabetes and (b) Type two diabetes; if he will assess the adequacy of research funding for Type one diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: Spend on research funded directly by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in 2010-11 and 2011-12 in the Health Research Classification System health categories is shown in the table. These figures do not take account of NIHR expenditure on research infrastructure and systems where spend cannot be attributed to health categories.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Health category 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Blood 6,602,922 8,609,175 
			 Cancer 100,901,252 104,103,633 
			 Cardiovascular 30,991,469 34,117,061 
			 Congenital Disorders 4,352,476 4,252,761 
			 Ear 1,780,089 2,426,689 
			 Eye 7,139,225 7,851,304 
			 Generic Health Relevance 144,696,774 155,436,178 
			 Infection 21,079,768 20,883,877 
			 Inflammatory and Immune System 13,083,522 13,036,068 
			 Injuries and Accidents 4,192,377 5,446,326 
			 Mental Health 49,848,487 53,217,726 
			 Metabolic and Endocrine 25,683,345 26,627,825 
		
	
	
		
			 Musculoskeletal 15,639,508 17,571,806 
			 N/A 7,845,355 455,682 
			 Neurological 29,915,858 32,470,138 
			 Oral and Gastrointestinal 18,368,344 20,538,836 
			 Other 2,040,003 2,745,076 
			 Renal and Urogenital 8,744,089 10,154,953 
			 Reproductive Health and Childbirth 18,942,012 22,152,169 
			 Respiratory 18,192,188 20,234,850 
			 Skin 4,682,027 5,459,494 
			 Stroke 20,877,869 20,420,144 
		
	
	Expenditure by the NIHR through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on research on type 1 and type 2 diabetes is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 2011-12 £ million 
			 Type 1 diabetes 1.8 
			 Type 2 diabetes 3.4 
		
	
	Total spend by the NIHR on research on type one and type two diabetes is higher than this because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on these topics cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
	The Department has no plans to assess the adequacy of research funding for type 1 diabetes.

Health Services: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each primary care trust in the East of England spent on salaries, pension contributions and other remuneration for (a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff in each of the last three financial years.

Daniel Poulter: The following figures are unvalidated estimates of the sum of total earnings, employer's pension contributions and employer's national insurance contributions recorded on the electronic staff record (ESR) data warehouse for each stated staff group and year. The data warehouse is a monthly snap shot of the live ESR system, which is the human resources and payroll system that covers all national health service employees other than those working in general practice, two non-participating foundation trusts, and some NHS staff who have transferred to social enterprises, etc. ESR was fully rolled out across the NHS in April 2008.
	Staff groups are defined by the occupational code attached to each staff record.
	The nurses and midwives category is made up of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. The reduction in the cost of employing nurses and midwives reflects the transfer of responsibility for providing community services from primary care trusts as a result of “Transforming Community Services.”
	
		
			 The sum of total earnings, employer's pension contributions and employer's national insurance contributions recorded on the electronic staff record data warehouse for each stated staff group and year 
			 £ million 
			 Ocs code: Trust n ame 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 (a) General and  s enior  m angers :     
			 5GC Luton PCT 2.79 3.58 3.75 
			 5P1 South East Essex PCT 7.20 7.61 7.41 
			 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 6.66 6.65 6.12 
			 5PN Peterborough PCT 2.09 1.45 1.00 
			 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 4.67 5.65 5.72 
			 5PQ Norfolk PCT 6.85 6.92 5.97 
			 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 2.76 3.07 3.44 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 7.41 8.59 7.26 
			 5PV West Essex PCT 5.12 4.79 3.89 
			 5PW North East Essex PCT 5.27 4.46 3.23 
			 5PX Mid Essex PCT 4.49 4.54 4.36 
			 5PY South West Essex PCT 9.10 10.57 8.44 
			 5QV Hertfordshire PCT 9.87 10.03 9.72 
			 (b) Nurses and  m idwives:     
			 5GC Luton PCT 2.83 1.99 0.67 
			 5P1 South East Essex PCT 2.42 1.47 0.70 
			 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 4.22 3.23 1.41 
			 5PN Peterborough PCT 4.28 3.95 1.15 
		
	
	
		
			 5PP Cambridgeshire PCX 2.96 1.04 0.92 
			 5PQ Norfolk PCT 7.85 4.66 1.27 
			 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 2.18 1.61 0.85 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 20.40 21.39 15.34 
			 5PV West Essex PCT 2.83 2.48 1.09 
			 5PW North East Essex PCT 15.20 9.25 1.13 
			 5PX Mid Essex PCT 3.42 2.26 1.15 
			 5PY South West Essex PCX 4.64 3.22 1.39 
			 5QV Hertfordshire PCT 7.51 3.72 0.90 
			 (c) Administrative and  c lerical  s taff:     
			 5GC Luton PCT 2.61 2.42 1.99 
			 5P1 South East Essex PCT 2.61 3.27 2.45 
			 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 4.51 4.77 3.95 
			 5PN Peterborough PCT 7.33 6.84 5.01 
			 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 6.58 5.63 5.74 
			 5PQ Norfolk PCT 5.87 5.67 5.15 
			 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 2.06 2.48 2.12 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 8.48 8.55 7.46 
			 5PV West Essex PCT 4.37 6.15 5.10 
			 5PW North East Essex PCT 8.94 7.99 3.32 
			 5PX Mid Essex PCT 3.44 3.25 2.38 
			 5PY South West Essex PCT 6.28 5.37 2.60 
			 5QV Hertfordshire PCT 7.61 7.61 7.61

NHS: Staff

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2012, Official Report, column 470-1W, on NHS: staff, what information his Department holds on the ethnic diversity of the Very Senior Management tier within (a) his Department, (b) the NHS Commissioning Board, (c) Health Education England, (d) Public Health England, (e) the NHS Trust Development Agency, (f) Monitor and (g) the Care Quality Commission;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on the equality monitoring of appointments within (a) the NHS Commissioning Board, (b) Health Education England, (c) Public Health England, (d) the NHS Trust Development Agency, (e) Monitor and (f) the Care Quality Commission;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2012, Official Report, columns 470-1W, on NHS: staff, what information his Department holds on the gender composition of the very senior management tier within (a) his Department, (b) the NHS Commissioning Board, (c) Health Education England, (d) Public Heath England, (e) the NHS Trust Development Agency, (f) Monitor and (g) the Care Quality Commission.

Daniel Poulter: Information on the gender composition and ethnic diversity of the very senior management tier within the Department can be found at the following link:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/01/workforce/
	Information about the NHS Commissioning Board, Health Education England, Public Health England, the NHS Trust Development Authority, Monitor and the Care Quality Commission is not collected centrally.

Aerospace Industry

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many projects have been awarded funds as part of his Department's Building UK Leadership in Aerodynamics scheme in the latest period for which figures are available; what the value was of each such award; and how many such projects have (a) started and (b) been completed.

Michael Fallon: As part of our commitment to the joint Government/industry Aerospace Growth Partnership, we announced £60 million of funding in the budget to create a new UK Aerodynamics Centre. The first award under this scheme consisted of £28.3 million Government funding, augmented by £22.2 million from industry for six collaborative research projects involving a range of industry and academic partners and delivered through the Technology Strategy Board. Formal offer letters covering these projects have been signed by all participants and work is under way.
	The second award is for just over £15 million, matched by equal funding from industry for a portfolio of seven industry-led collaborative projects in aerodynamics following a new open competition for innovative projects in aerodynamics, (announced by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) at Farnborough International Airshow in July). Conditional offer letters have been issued and final contract negotiations are under way.
	No projects have yet been completed.

Manufacturing Industries

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's initial announcement of the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative on 6 November 2011 and subsequent announcement on 26 November 2012, how much of the £125 million announced has been (a) allocated and (b) spent; and whether he has any plans for any underspend of the initiative.

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), announced the successful bids from Round 1 of the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative on 26 November 2012. The successful bids are projected to create or safeguard over 2,160 jobs supported by approximately £80 million of joint public and private sector investment. We will announce the winners from Round 2 of the initiative in spring next year. Full details of the awards to individual companies will be disclosed in due course once the due diligence process has progressed further.

BAE Systems

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps will be taken by the Office for Nuclear Regulation to ensure that quality assurance concerns will be investigated and addressed during construction of Astute class submarines by BAE Systems.

Mark Hoban: BAE systems is the licensee for the Nuclear Licensed site at Barrow, which is regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). ONR does not have responsibility for the regulation of submarine construction. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, which has its own Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DSNR). DSNR leads on the regulation of the reactor plant.

Epilepsy

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with epilepsy as their primary medical condition have received (a) employment and support allowance and (b) disability living allowance in (i) Vauxhall constituency and (ii) England and Wales since May 2010.

Esther McVey: In the following table is a breakdown of employment support allowance (ESA), incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and disability living allowance (DLA) claimants, with a primary medical condition of Epilepsy in (i) Vauxhall constituency and (ii) England and Wales since May 2010:
	
		
			  Benefit England Wales Vauxhall parliamentary constituency 
			 May 2010 ESA 4,910 360 1.0 
			  IB/SDA 39,820 3,660 80 
			  DLA 57,480 4,790 100 
			      
			 May 2011 ESA 6,920 500 20 
			  IB/SDA 37,730 3,480 80 
			  DLA 58,370 4,830 90 
			      
			 February 2012 ESA 12,510 880 30 
			  IB/SDA 32,090 3,050 70 
			  DLA 59,070 4,810 100 
			 Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, some additional disclosure control has been applied. 3. Caseload for DLA show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. IB/SDA 'Claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'. 6. To qualify for incapacity benefit (IB), claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work called a Personal Capability Assessment. Under the employment support allowance regime, new claimants have to undergo the Work Capability assessment. From April 2011 incapacity benefit recipients will begin also to undertake this assessment. The medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefit or employment support allowance. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for a customer claiming IB or ESA on the basis of mental and behavioural disorders would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities assessed by the Personal/Work Capability Assessment. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% WPLS

Unemployment Benefits: Ayrshire

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) East Ayrshire local authority area have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years, (iv) four years, (v) five years and (vi) 10 years at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the numbers of people in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) East Ayrshire local authority area who have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits:
	
		
			  All Up to one year One to two years Two to three years Three to four years Four to five years Five years and up to 10 years 10 years and over 
			 East Ayrshire Local Authority 13,800 5,960 1,940 700 560 440 1,550 2,650 
			 Jobseekers Allowance 4,840 3,650 1,010 130 40 * 10 10 
			 Incapacity Benefits 7,060 1,730 600 340 360 320 1,270 2,450 
			 Lone Parents 1,320 420 240 180 130 80 180 90 
			 Carers 440 90 80 40 40 30 70 90 
			 Other Income Related Benefits 140 90 10 * * * 10 20 
			          
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun Parliamentary Constituency 10,440 4,580 1,490 550 410 340 1,190 1,870 
			 Jobseekers Allowance 3,750 2,820 770 110 30 * 10 10 
			 Incapacity Benefits 5,200 1,300 460 260 250 240 960 1,720 
			 Lone Parents 1,050 330 190 140 100 70 150 70 
			 Carers 320 60 60 30 30 20 60 60 
			 Other Income Related Benefits 110 70 10 * * * 10 20 
			 "*" Denotes nil or negligible. Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. 3. Out of work benefits which are included in this analysis are: Jobseekers Allowance Employment and Support Allowance Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance Income Support 4. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment and support allowance (ESA) for new claims from October 2008. 5. Durations shown are the longest claim duration of the benefits of interest. 6. The duration of claim reflects the longest out-of-work benefit claim for each person: For the jobseekers statistical group this will be the length of the JSA claim. For the lone parent, carer, and others on income related benefit statistical groups this will be the length of the IS claim. For the ESA and incapacity benefits claim this will be the length of the IB/SDA or ESA claim if the person is only claiming that benefit, or the oldest of either the IB/SDA/ESA and IS claim if the person is claiming a combination of these benefits. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Work Capability Assessment

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to reduce the cost and number of appeals following work capability assessments.

Mark Hoban: We are introducing a number of measures to help reduce both the cost and the number of appeals. These include:
	A 'mandatory reconsideration' process so that when a claimant disagrees with a DWP decision, they will be given a thorough explanation and helped to identify any additional evidence that could review the decision and enable DWP to ensure that all claimants receive the benefits which they are entitled to at the earliest opportunity.
	Direct Lodgement of appeals with Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)—which will mean that claimants wishing to appeal a DWP decision following a mandatory reconsideration will be required to submit their appeal directly to HMCTS.
	Professor Harrington made a number of recommendations to support the 'right first time' approach to decision making. From the 9 July 2012 we have introduced a new scheme for tribunals to provide feedback to DWP on the standards of decision making in respect of cases where the tribunal overturns a DWP decision. This will enable the Department to assess areas that may require further improvement and help improve standards of decision making.
	In June 2010 DWP appointed Professor Malcolm Harrington a highly respected occupational physician to undertake independent reviews of the work capability assessment (WCA). He has completed three reviews, the third of which was published on the 20 November 2012.
	The improvements we are making to the WCA following these Harrington reviews will:
	ensure that we increase the number of decisions that are right first time; and
	improve communications to claimants.

Work Capability Assessment

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase the accuracy of decision-making during the initial assessment phase of the work capability assessment.

Mark Hoban: In June 2010 DWP appointed Professor Malcolm Harrington a highly respected occupational physician who has undertaken three independent reviews of the work capability assessment (WCA). The Government's response to his latest review which was published on 20 November can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-review-2012-response.pdf
	Over the course of the reviews Professor Harrington has made a number of recommendations to support the 'right first time' approach to decision making. Professor Harrington's recommendations included making the process more empathetic and less mechanistic by:
	improving the way Jobcentre Plus communicates with claimants;
	introducing mental, cognitive and intellectual 'champions' into assessment centres to improve the assessment of these functions;
	empowering and improving training for decision makers; and
	improving the transparency of the process.
	As a result we have:
	changed the way we communicate with claimants, including enhanced communications to explain the process more clearly;
	put decision makers at the heart of the process and introduced the Quality Assessment Framework to improve the quality of decisions made; and
	introduced the personalised summary statement and regional mental function champions to improve the quality of face to face assessments.

Liverpool Airport

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the airlines on the introduction of a (a) transatlantic and (b) trans-Asian route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), has held no discussions with airline representatives on the introduction of transatlantic or Asian routes from Liverpool John Lennon airport. It is a commercial decision for airlines as to what routes that they operate.

Roads: North West

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what provision was made in the North West Highways Management Contract for Area 10 for a review of the adequacy of the measures to be taken by the contractors in the event of a fuel spillage on the motorway;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to review the value for money of the North West Highways management contract for Area 10; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether there is provision in the North West Highways Management Contract for Area 10 for the cleaning up of fuel spillages on the carriageway by contractors; and what steps contractors are permitted to take under such provisions.

Stephen Hammond: The new asset support contract for the geographical area known as Area 10, commenced on 4 November 2012. It was awarded, following a competitive tendering process, to the tenderer offering the best value for money.
	The asset support contract includes a requirement to make the trunk road and motorway network safe, following all incidents. This includes cleaning up after fuel spills. The asset support contractor is required to attend incidents and reopen the lanes within a timescale specified in the contract.
	This is a performance measure used by the Highways Agency, which specifies mean monthly opening times based on the traffic levels and time of day on the trunk road or motorway.
	The asset support contract gives the contractor flexibility to determine how best to deal with the spills and achieve the required outcomes.

Arts: Ethnic Groups

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the representation of ethnic minority employees in the creative industries for which her Department leads in providing support; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 29 November 2012
	Data from the 2011 Sector Skills Assessment for the Creative Industries (produced by Creative Skillset and Creative and Cultural Skills) suggests that BME representation in the creative industries is 7%, compared with 9% for the whole UK Economy.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is committed to improving equality of access and opportunity to those working within its sectors, and works to promote a diverse creative industries sector that supports growth. Support for the sector is primarily channelled through the joint Government and Industry forum, the Creative Industries Council, which addresses barriers and issues facing the sector. A report on skills produced by a council working group earlier this year highlighted the need to increase and enrich pathways into the sector, so that talent from all backgrounds can enter the creative industries and prosper. Government and Industry are now working together to take forward action against recommendations in this report which include greater apprenticeship and internship provision.

Economic Situation

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the need for a regional balance to the UK economy.

Sajid Javid: The Local Growth White Paper established the Government's approach to promoting local growth in England. Returning the UK economy to sustainable economic growth that is more balanced across the UK and sectors is a key priority. The Government is supporting growth in England's regions by allocating £2.4 billion of investment through the Regional Growth Fund; providing £730 million to endow an investment fund for all local enterprise partnerships through the Growing Places Fund; introducing 24 new enterprise zones; and devolving powers and funding through City Deals including a significant deal for Liverpool.
	The Local Government Resource review creates an incentive for localities to grow their business rates base, and provides greater, rewards to those areas with low tax bases compared to their communities’ current needs, thereby enhancing other policies that seek to rebalance growth in England.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional expenditure has been allocated to High Speed 2 (HS2) to enable it to deliver the recommendations in the Major Project Authority's report on HS2; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The Government has allocated expenditure to HS2 Ltd during the current spending review period to design and develop plans for the proposed high speed route between London and Birmingham in support of the Hybrid Bill.
	All major projects are reviewed by the Major Projects Authority during their development with the aim of ensuring that they are delivered efficiently, on time and to budget.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether additional expenditure has been allocated to enable HS2 Ltd to develop further mitigation proposals for the preferred line of route in this Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The Government have allocated expenditure to HS2 Ltd during the current spending review period to design and develop plans for the proposed high speed route between London and Birmingham in support of the Hybrid Bill.
	The Government and HS2 Ltd will continue to place a high priority on mitigating the effects that building a new railway will bring and HS2 Ltd will carry out a full environmental impact assessment of the route.

Children in Care

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of children in care whose parents were previously in care;
	(2)  how many children there were in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in the most recent year for which figures are available broken down by the reason for entry into care.

Edward Timpson: Data is not collected on the number of children in care whose parents were previously in care.
	Data held centrally on looked after children does not go beneath local authority level, and to generate these geographies within this data would incur disproportionate costs. Information on the number of children looked after at 31 March 2012, by local authority, is provided in table LAA1 of the Statistical First Release 'Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England (including adoption and care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2012' which can be found on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/allstatistics/a00213762/children-looked-after-las-england

Private Education: Special Educational Needs

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of omission of provision for independent special schools from the Children and Families Bill on access to local specialist support for children with complex needs.

Edward Timpson: The draft special educational needs provisions of the proposed children and families legislation reflect the current position. Parents of children with statements of special educational needs can make representations for an independent school and the local authority has to consider those representations. The Government is currently exploring with independent schools catering specifically for children with special educational needs the possibility of including them within the provisions which give parents of children with Education, Health and Care Plans the right to express a preference for a particular state funded school. We are hopeful of resolving matters in time for the introduction of the legislation, which is currently in draft and undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny.

Pupils: Databases

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  with reference to his plans to widen access to the National Pupil Database, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the identity of individuals is fully protected; and what steps he will take in case there is a breach of that protection by (a) the media, (b) commercial organisations and (c) others;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Information Commissioner on his proposed changes to widen access to the National Pupil Database;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of including private schools in the national pupil database.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 27 November 2012
	The Department for Education is consulting on proposals to amend regulations to allow extracts of data from the national pupil database to be shared for a wider set of purposes. The aim is to increase beneficial uses of the data that promote the education or well-being of children.
	All applications for extracts of data from the national pupil database are subject to a robust approvals process. Selected data would only be shared with approved organisations for specific purposes. Organisations must comply with strict terms and conditions on security, handling and use of the data, including processing it in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The data is typically shared in a format that allows users to analyse the information without the need for names or other identifiers, with sensitive data receded to make it much less sensitive.
	The Department has the right to audit compliance with security requirements and terms and conditions. Any failure to comply with the terms and conditions would be considered a serious matter and a breach of contract with the Department of Education. Organisations could also be subject to prosecution under the Data Protection Act 1998, or the Information Commissioner could impose penalties of up to £500,000.
	Officials have discussed proposals to widen access to extracts of data from the national pupil database under strict terms and conditions with representatives from the Information Commissioner's Office on a number of occasions over the last year. Information Commissioner Office representatives have said that they would support in principle the release of data under controlled access, as long as a proper system of governance is in place. The Department strengthened its process for requesting access to data from the national pupil database under terms and conditions, details of which are available on the Department's website. See following link:
	www.education.gov.uk/npd
	The Department for Education does not hold detailed pupil level information relating to independent schools. The Department holds attainment data on all schools for public examinations taken at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, which is provided by awarding organisations. Independent schools are not required to take part in national curriculum tests, but may choose to do so. Any other pupil level data held is provided voluntarily.

Special Educational Needs

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his Department's announcement of 20 November 2012 that the trials of the proposals in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Green Paper will be extended by 18 months, whether he proposes that there should be a revised timetable for evaluation reports from the pathfinders.

Edward Timpson: In line with commitments made in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Green Paper, 20 pathfinders were set up in September 2011, representing 31 local authorities and their health partners.
	An independent interim evaluation report of the pathfinder programme was published on 18 October 2012 and is available from the Department for Education's research website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/research/researchpublications
	Under existing contractual arrangements with SQW, the final evaluation report is due to be published in summer 2013.
	On 6 November, I was pleased to be able to announce to the Education Select Committee an 18 month extension of the pathfinder programme, to September 2014. The independent evaluation will be extended by up to 24 months, subject to contract negotiations, allowing more time for the most effective pathfinder approaches to be fully evaluated and shared, particularly with non-pathfinder areas to support implementation of the Green Paper reform programme. The timing of further evaluation reports is being considered as part of the negotiations.

Community Orders: Young Offenders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of applying community payback to people under 18 years of age.

Jeremy Wright: Community Payback or unpaid work is available as a requirement of a Youth Rehabilitation Order for offenders of 16 or 17 years of age. It is a sentence which punishes young offenders by requiring them to do hard work which benefits the community. In 2011 unpaid work requirements of Youth Rehabilitation Orders comprised 3.5% of the total unpaid work requirements imposed. Approximately 75% of adults sentenced to Community Payback successfully complete their sentences by working all of the hours required. In 2011 the successful completion rate for sentences imposed as a requirement of a Youth Rehabilitation Order was less than 50%. Efforts are being made by the National Offender Management Service to increase the number of young offenders who successfully complete Community Payback sentences.

Coroners: Tees Valley

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time taken by the Teesside Coroner to conduct inquests was in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; what assessment he has made of the performance of the Teesside Coroner in 2012 with regard to the time taken for inquests to be concluded; and what meetings he has had to discuss issues relating to the Teesside Coroner.

Helen Grant: The average time taken by the Teesside coroner to conduct inquests was 34 weeks in 2009, 43 weeks in 2010 and 44 weeks in 2011.
	The Teesside coroner was the subject of an investigation by the Office for Judicial Complaints in 2011 concerning the increase in time taken to conclude inquests since 2008. The investigation was deferred in December 2011 pending the outcome of a separate investigation undertaken by Middlesbrough Council's Community Safety and Leisure Scrutiny Committee into the Teesside coroner. MOJ Ministers have not had any meetings to discuss issues relating to the Teesside coroner.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications were received by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority on (a) 27 November 2011, (b) 26 November 2012 and (c) 27 November 2012.

Helen Grant: As the 27 November 2011 was a Sunday, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority's office was closed. They have given the figure for Friday 25 November 2011 instead.
	The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority considers applications to have been received once a consent form, allowing them to undertake investigations, has been signed and returned. Applicants who completed an online or telephone application on 26 or 27 November are unlikely to have returned that form. Therefore, in addition to the number of applications received with a returned consent, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has also provided the number of online/telephone applications completed.
	
		
			  Applications received (consent form returned) Internet/telephone applications completed (consent form outstanding) 
			 25 November 2011 177 — 
			 26 November 2012 329 589 
			 27 November 2012 1 143

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) average and (b) maximum length of time was for the Tribunals Service to administer a First-tier Tribunal Social Security and Child Support appeal in respect of employment and support allowance in Coventry in each quarter in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Helen Grant: Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on an individual's entitlement to social security and child support are heard by the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
	(a) The following table shows the average time taken from receipt of an appeal to disposal by the tribunal in respect of employment and support allowance (ESA) in the Coventry hearing venues for (i) each quarter of the financial year 2011-12 and (ii) April to June 2012 (the latest period for which figures are available).
	
		
			 Appeal times (in weeks) from receipt to disposal in Coventry 
			 Employment and support allowance Appeal times (weeks) 
			 April to June 2011 33.0 
			 July to September 2011 36.3 
			 October to December 2011 39.7 
			 January to March 2012 46.8 
			 April to June 2012 37.8 
			 Note: The data is taken from management information 
		
	
	The appeal waiting time in weeks in Coventry for all appeal types is 30.8 weeks.
	(b) The SSCS tribunal does not hold information on the single longest period an appellant has waited for a benefit appeal hearing. The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost by manually checking individual case files. However, during the period April to June 2012, 584 ESA appeals were disposed of in the Coventry venues. Of these 0.7% were more than two-years-old. Those appeals that take longer than two years to be disposed of are likely to be complex cases which may have more than one hearing, for example a first hearing may have been adjourned for further evidence to be gathered.
	HMCTS has continued to respond strongly to the significant increase in the number of appeals received by the SSCS tribunal. Two additional venues are now in use to hear some appeals which would previously have been heard at the Coventry venue. These are in Leamington Spa and Nuneaton (in use from 13 and 15 November 2012 respectively). These additional venues provide the capacity for an additional 36 sessions in November and 40 sessions in December. This will reduce the number of appeals waiting to be heard at Coventry and, therefore, help bring down the average waiting time for an appeal hearing. Other work to increase the tribunal's capacity is also underway. This includes the recruitment of additional fee-paid judges and medical members, increased administrative resource, and work to reallocate hearings to alternative nearby venues to ensure appeals are dealt with as quickly as possible.
	HMCTS is also working hard at a national level to increase the capacity of the SSCS Tribunal and reduce waiting times. It has implemented a range of measures which include recruiting more judges and medical panel members; increasing administrative resources and streamlining processes; securing additional hearing venues across the country; increasing the number of cases listed in each tribunal session; running double shifts in its largest processing centre; running Saturday sittings in some of the busiest venues; and establishing a customer contact centre to deal with telephone inquiries.
	All of this is having a positive effect. The total number of disposals has increased significantly from 279,000 in 2009-10 to 380,000 in 2010-11, and 433,600 appeals in 2011-12, with the capacity for half a million disposals in 2012-13.
	The tribunal disposed of more appeals than it received in every month between January 2011 and February 2012 (14 consecutive months) and the outstanding caseload within the tribunals fell by 25% in 2011-12 to reach 145,000 on 31 March 2012. The average waiting time has stabilised nationally, and has fallen across many venues.

Judges: County Courts

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which Justices of the High Court in England and Wales were authorised to sit as county court judges after direction by the Lord Chancellor under section 5(3) of the County Courts Act 1984 since January 1989 to date;
	(2)  how many directions under section 5(3) of the County Courts Act 1984 have been made authorising justices of the High Court to sit as judges of the County Court in (a) Caernarfon County Court and (b) Cardiff County Court between January 1989 and October 2012.

Helen Grant: It is not possible to provide an accurate response on records dating back to 1989 as we do not hold information dating back this far. However, the breakdown as to the number of High Court judges authorised to sit under section 5(3) of the County Courts Act 1984 from 1 January 2007 to date is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and details of those approved 
			 2007 One—Sir Nicholas Underhill 
			 2008 One—Sir David Bean 
			 2010 Nine—(of these eight were approved to sit in the Patents County Court jurisdiction)—Sir Kim Lewison, Dame Sonia Proudman, Sir Christopher Floyd, Sir Anthony Mann, Sir Nicholas Warren, Sir David Kitchin, Sir Paul Morgan, Sir Alastair Norris and Sir Richard Arnold 
			 2012 One—Sir Michael Briggs 
		
	
	No authorisations have been made specifically for (a) Caernarfon county court or (b) Cardiff county court.

Magistrates' Courts: Video Conferencing

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many magistrate's courts were using video links with police stations on 1 November (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012.

Damian Green: Video links between magistrates courts and police stations are used for two purposes:
	(1) To allow a defendant to appear in a magistrates court for a first hearing by means of a video link while still physically located in the police station and
	(2) To allow police officers give evidence to the court while physically located in the police station.
	First hearings allowing defendants to appear by video were first piloted in London (Camberwell Green magistrates court) since May 2009 and Kent (Medway magistrates court) since August 2009.
	Police officers giving evidence to magistrates court by video began using a link from South Norwood police station to Croydon magistrates court in March 2011.
	The number of magistrates courts using video links with police stations for either defendants or police officer giving evidence are:
	
		
			 As at 1 November each year Number 
			 2008 0 
			 2009 2 
			 2010 2 
			 2011 5 
			 2012 19

Planning Permission: Appeals

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Prime Minister's speech to the CBI on 19 November 2012, what the current time limit is for making (a) a judicial review application and (b) a statutory appeal relating to planning decisions.

Helen Grant: Under the Civil Procedure Rules, claims for Judicial Review should be brought promptly and not later than three months after the grounds to make the claim first arose.
	Where planning cases are appealed to and decided by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, most judicial appeals are made through section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which are subject to a six week time limit.

Sentencing

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2012, Official Report, column 291W, on the Policing and Crime Act 2009, what assessment he has made of the reasons behind the recording issues referred to in that answer; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Information that is published annually within the Criminal Justice Statistics publication has been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. The data from those systems have more than 22,000 different offence classifications available. It is not possible to individually check the accurate recording of each available offence classification on the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database used for preparing the Criminal Justice Statistics publication. A solution for the issue of recording in this centrally held database has been identified and now being tested. As previously advised, revision to the 2011 information and 2012 data are planned for publication in May 2013.

Staff

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months.

Jeremy Wright: The information is as follows:
	(a) Expenditure on the fees paid to recruitment agencies for supplying contractors, consultants, and those taking up temporary and permanent positions in the Ministry of Justice is recorded differently across the various organisations within the Ministry. To arrive at a breakdown of monies paid for the provision of such services would require a manual examination of each invoice submitted by a recruitment agency. This would incur disproportionate cost.
	(b) The Ministry of Justice provides career transition coaching, guidance and support to surplus staff (including those at risk of redundancy) through its in-house Career Transition Service. The support package to staff includes a guaranteed place at a full day career transition workshop facilitated by an external outplace support provider, six months unlimited access to an online career development resource site and distance coaching for six months after attendance at the workshop. The average cost of the outplacement support (workshop and follow-up support) is £165 per person. The average monthly cost across the full 12 month period is approximately £6,308.
	(c) Budgets for internal training within the Ministry of Justice are devolved to business units and are deployed for staff training to meet business need. To arrive at a breakdown of monies paid for internal training would require a manual examination of individual budgets. This would incur disproportionate cost.
	For external training, the most recent data available shows that for the period between 1 August 2011 and 31 July 2012, the Department spent £10.351 million. External training costs are those which are delivered outside of the Department's internal resources with approval through the central civil service learning arrangement. This can include professional training and support through academic bodies. External training providers are able to deliver specialist training which is sometimes not available internally. Externally procuring specialist training in this way is often more cost effective than developing training packages because the training is targeted to smaller groups.
	A monthly breakdown of this expenditure is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Gross amount (£ million) 
			 August 2011 0.483 
			 September 2011 0.995 
			 October 2011 0.654 
			 November 2011 1.234 
			 December 2011 0.701 
			 January 2012 1.099 
			 February 2012 0.906 
			 March 2012 1.351 
			 April 2012 1.181 
			 May 2012 0.329 
			 June 2012 0.591 
			 July 2012 0.827

Boilers: Repairs and Maintenance

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average waiting time was for the Warm Front scheme to deal with boiler breakdowns in (a) November, December, January, February and March 2010, (b) November, December, January, February and March 2011 and (c)  January, February, March and November 2012.

Gregory Barker: The average waiting times for breakdowns serviced through WarmSure, the aftercare provider for the Warm Front scheme, for the months requested is set out in the following table. The average response times presented are for all categories of breakdowns reported by customers and not those solely associated with a boiler breakdown. Data is not yet available for November 2012.
	
		
			 Month Average response (days) 
			 January 2010 5 
			 February 2010 4 
			 March 2010 4 
			 November 2010 4 
			 December 2010 4 
			 January 2011 5 
			 February 2011 8 
			 March 2011 5 
			 November 2011 3 
			 December 2012 3 
			 January 2012 3 
			 February 2012 3 
			 March 2012 4

Green Deal Scheme

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that homeowners receive assistance to insulate their homes from the Green Deal launch date on 28 January 2013.

Gregory Barker: Up to and from 28 January 2013, homeowners are being supported to insulate their homes in a number of ways:
	Energy Company Obligation CECO)
	The new ECO will come into force on 1 January 2013 and is expected to provide about £1.3 billion of support each year for energy saving home improvements targeted at low income and vulnerable households and harder to treat properties, such as those requiring solid wall insulation.
	Launch Incentives
	A cash back scheme worth £125 million, will reward households in England and Wales taking early action to improve the energy efficiency of their homes under the Green Deal with direct cash payments from Government. Amounts could be £1,000 or more per household depending on the improvements they install. The Green Deal Cashback Scheme will support the transition to a new energy efficiency market framework by raising awareness of and demand for improvements installed under the Green Deal. We will open the Cashback Scheme in the second week of January to help consumers and businesses get ready to take fullest advantage of the Cashback offer as we build to the full launch of the Green Deal on 28 January 2013 , when the first Green Deal finance plans may be signed.
	Core Cities
	We are giving £12 million of funding to seven major cities. The money will support 'demonstrator' projects to trial key aspects of the Green Deal and support future activity in these areas. Activity includes Green Deal assessments, loan arrangements to fund work and show homes to provide local examples of what can be achieved. Building on this we have offered local authorities in England the opportunity to bid for £10 million to support early delivery and promote future demand for the Green Deal.
	Consumer engagement
	The Green Deal will be market driven, with Green Deal Participants leading consumer engagement using their brands and their customer knowledge. However, Government has an important role to play providing impartial advice online at:
	www.gov.uk/greendeal
	and via the Energy Saving Advice Service helpline (0300 123 1234). A £2.9 million Government communications campaign will help raise awareness and build trust in the Green Deal.

Egypt

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Egypt on the declaration issued by President Mohammed Mursi of Egypt on 22 November 2012.

Alistair Burt: I discussed the situation in Egypt with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Kamal Amr, on 27 November and sought reassurances that a way forward would be found. The Foreign Minister assured me that President Mursi was in dialogue with the Egyptian judiciary and civil society? and hoped this would be settled soon. We will continue to maintain close contact with the Egyptian authorities and the opposition and monitor developments.

Egypt

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the declaration issued by President Mohammed Mursi of Egypt on 22 November 2012.

Alistair Burt: To date our close contact with the European External Action Service and EU member states has been through UK. officials. We are also discussing the declaration and its wider implications issue with EU partners in Cairo through our embassy.

Antisocial Behaviour

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of calls to the police were concerned with anti-social behaviour in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012 to date.

Jeremy Browne: The requested information is not available centrally.
	The Home Office collates figures on the number of antisocial behaviour incidents recorded by the police forces of England and Wales but does not collect data on the total number of calls that the police receive or what proportion relate to antisocial behaviour.

Human Trafficking

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what members of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking did to raise awareness of human trafficking on or around Anti-Slavery Day.

Mark Harper: Members of the Inter-Department Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking (IDMG) participated in a range of events on or around Anti-Slavery Day including:
	visiting a support provider; meeting with a trafficking victim; visiting a local school; holding a seminar with a university group; witnessing frontline border operations; attending the Women Against Violence Europe Conference; hosting an event for foreign embassy staff at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to engage with them on victim support issues; and participating in a human trafficking summit organised by the Scottish Government. I met with NGO staff involved in the GIFTbox project and spoke to the BBC as well as chairing a round table event for the private sector, to raise awareness in the hotel industry
	The first report of the IDMG was also published on Anti-Slavery Day.

Armed Forces: Housing

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2012, Official Report, column 454W, on armed forces: housing, if he will estimate the number of hard-to-treat service family accommodation properties that will benefit from the Energy Company Obligation and the Green Deal.

Mark Francois: Currently 317 “hard-to-treat” service family accommodation properties will benefit from the Energy Company Obligation and the Green Deal.
	However, as stated in my answer of 19 October, a further 10,000 properties will benefit from improved insulation work as well.

Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many current service personnel were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in England in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Mark Francois: The following table shows the number of UK service personnel who attended a Ministry of Defence (MOD) Department for Community Mental Health (DCMH) in England, with an assessment of PTSD(1).
	(1) All figures are provisional as at 1 October 2012.
	
		
			 DCMH Number 
			 2009 77 
			 2010 110 
			 2011 142 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of UK service personnel assessed with PTSD by the MOD's in-patient provider. In-patient facilities are based in the UK however, it is not possible to ascertain referral location, and therefore identify those referrals made in England only.
	
		
			 In-patient provider Number 
			 2009 Less than 5 
			 2010 10 
			 2011 11 
		
	
	Individuals may have received more than one episode of care from 2009 to 2011 and could therefore be counted in more than one year.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 704W, on armed forces: sexual offences, in which year the convictions were recorded; in which country the individuals are currently serving; and whether risk assessments were carried out prior to the convicted individuals returning to duty in respect of contact with (a) the public, (b) male and (c) female members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The details we can release in relation to these cases are restricted by our obligations under the Data Protection Act, I can confirm that the individuals referred to are currently serving in the UK. I can also confirm that their convictions were recorded in 2006 and 2009 respectively.
	Primary responsibility for the management of these offenders rests with the civilian police, in accordance with Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), which are designed to reduce the risk of re-offending in order to protect the public. This includes ensuring that a risk management plan is developed. As part of these arrangements, a civilian police offender manager will visit the offenders at least once every 12 months and the offenders will also be monitored during routine MAPPA meetings.
	I can also confirm that where an individual is retained in the armed forces, an additional risk assessment is undertaken by their chain of command at the point of their retention; a process which is repeated whenever the individual is posted, or there are significant changes in their place of residence or employment. The chain of command will also consider the severity of the offence when deciding to retain an individual or not.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault were reported by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: For the number of rape and sexual assault cases reported between 2010 and mid 2012, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor the Minister for the Armed Forces, the right hon. Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 25 June 2012, Official Report, column 3W. The additional information now requested is not held centrally, and to provide figures of each reported allegation of rape and sexual assault for each year since 2000 would result in disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rape allegations were made by (a) female and (b) male members of the armed forces in each year since 2000; in how many of those cases (i) charges were directed for trial and (ii) trials were held; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The information requested on the number of rape allegations made by female and male members of the armed forces in each year since 2000 is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of cases of rape reported by members of the armed forces to the service police and referred to either the Single Service Prosecuting Authorities (up to 31 December 2008) or the Service Prosecuting Authority (from 1 January 2009) since 2005 and the number of those which resulted in direction for trial and trials held are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Female 
			  Rape referrals Directed for trial Trials held 
			 2005 3 2 2 
			 2006 1 0 0 
			 2007 2 1 1 
			 2008 4 1 1 
			 2009 3 1 1 
			 2010 6 1 1 
			 2011 3 1 1 
			 2012 to 22 November 2012 (1)9 (2)5 2 
			 (1) One yet to be decided. (2) Three awaiting trial. 
		
	
	
		
			 Male 
			  Rape  r eferrals Directed for  t rial Trials  h eld 
			 2005 1 0 0 
			 2006 0 0 0 
			 2007 0 0 0 
			 2008 0 0 0 
			 2009 0 0 0 
			 2010 0 0 0 
			 tab="yes2011 1 1 1 
			 2012 as at 22 November 2012 0 0 0 
		
	
	We do not hold details of cases investigated by the civilian police.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are serving sentences in military prisons following convictions for (a) sexual assault and (b) rape; what the average length of such sentences is in each category; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence does not have any military prisons. However, there is a Military Corrective Training Centre, in Colchester, which is a tri-service detention facility for armed forces personnel and, occasionally, civilians who are subject to service law.
	There are currently three armed forces personnel in detention at the Military Corrective Training Centre following a conviction for sexual assault. There is also one member of the armed forces who is detained at Colchester, while awaiting sentencing, having been found guilty of rape.
	Those found guilty of a sexual offence are normally discharged on completion of their sentences, and only retained in service in exceptional circumstances.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault reported by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000 resulted in (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The information requested on the number of cases of rape and sexual assault reported by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000 is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of cases of rape and sexual assault reported by members of the armed forces which resulted in trial and conviction by either the Single Service Prosecuting Authorities (up to 31 December 2008) or the Service Prosecuting Authority (from 1 January 2009) since 2005 are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Rape referrals Directed for trial Conviction 
			 2005 4 2 1 
			 2006 1 0 0 
			 2007 2 1 0 
			 2008 4 1 0 
			 2009 3 1 0 
			 2010 6 1 0 
			 2011 4 2 1 
			 2012 to 22 November 2012 (1)9 (2)5 2 
			 (1) One yet to be decided. (2 )Three awaiting trial. 
		
	
	
		
			  Sexual assaults Directed for trial Conviction 
			 2005 27 14 7 
			 2006 30 18 10 
			 2007 19 14 9 
			 2008 21 14 8 
			 2009 16 8 3 
			 2010 31 18 15 
			 2011 40 27 22 
			 2012 as at 22 November 2012 (1)20 (2)10 4 
			 (1 )Four yet to be decided. (2 )Six awaiting trial.

Navy

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what change there will be in the number of military or civilian personnel employed across the Royal Navy due to the transfer of hunter-killer submarines from HM Naval Base Devonport to HM Naval Base Clyde;
	(2)  what change there will be in the number of military and civilian personnel employed at HM Naval Base Devonport due to the transfer of hunter-killer submarines to HM Naval Base Clyde;
	(3)  how many of the jobs which will be moved to Faslane with the transfer of Astute and Trafalgar class submarines are for (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff.

Mark Francois: The number of jobs at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde is forecast to increase from around 6,700 now to around 8,200 by 2022.
	This change is primarily due to an increase of around 1,500 in the number of Royal Navy jobs at the site, of which around 630 will transfer from HMNB Devonport due to the move of the base-port for the Trafalgar Class submarines to HMNB Clyde. There are no plans to transfer any Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian jobs from HMNB Devonport.
	It is not possible to determine the impact on civilian jobs at HMNB Devonport caused solely by the move of the base-port for the Trafalgar Class submarines. It is anticipated, however, that it will not lead to any significant changes in either HMNB Devonport civilian numbers, or in the total number of civilians employed by the MOD. It is also anticipated that it will not lead to an increase in the overall size of the Royal Navy.
	The decision to base-port the entire Astute Class at HMNB Clyde was taken before any of the submarines in the class entered service. As a result, no transfers of jobs from HMNB Devonport are planned.

Navy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Royal Navy takes to protect offshore wind turbines; and what (a) ships and (b) personnel are used to provide such security.

Mark Francois: The Royal Navy has not been tasked to provide protection to offshore wind turbines and no assets have been allocated.
	Any security or protection arrangements would ultimately be the primarily of the developer.

Pay

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees in his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000.

Mark Francois: holding answer 20 November 2012
	All of those who are employed by the Ministry of Defence need to be paid at a level which, on the one hand, reflects the requirement for financial restraint and value for money and, on the other hand, allows us to attract and retain high calibre individuals to undertake challenging roles.
	There are some 1,410 employees, of which 1,340 are military, in the Ministry of Defence who are paid between £80,000 and £100,000 and some 958, of which 930 are military, who are paid in excess of £100,000. These figures include both military and civilian personnel and represent less than 1% of the workforce.

Security

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Chief Secretary of the Treasury has been issued with a pass for the Ministry of Defence main building; and on what date that pass was issued.

Mark Francois: holding answer 27 November 2012
	The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), has not been issued with a permanent pass to the Ministry of Defence Main Building.
	He has had visitor or VIP passes prepared for him on six occasions. The dates were 26 May 2010, 18 January 2011, 27 April 2011, 25 May 2011, 22 June 2011 and 23 February 2012.

Theft

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what thefts there were from his Department's establishments in (a) April, (b) May, (c) June and (d) July 2012; what the value was of the items taken; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what thefts there were from his Department's establishments in (a) July, (b) August and (c) September 2012; what the value was of the items taken; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: Items that have been reported as stolen from April 2012-September 2012 are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 April 2012 
			 Items reported as stolen Estimated value (£) 
			 Drill, Jigsaws, Grinder 235.00 
			 TV 460.00 
			 TV 900.00 
			 Body Armour 400.00 
			 Cash 2,500.00 
		
	
	
		
			 May 2012 
			 Items reported as stolen Estimated value (£) 
			 Hard Drives and RAM 400.00 
			 Brass indicator test plugs 100.00 
			 Uniform tunic 25.00 
			 DVD player 100.00 
			 Discs 24.00 
			 Welding equipment 272.00 
			 Sat Nav 170.00 
			 Copper hot water cylinders 2,320.00 
			 Fuel Card 121.00 
			 Winch 2,000.00 
			 Ink cartridges 560.00 
			 Respirator, Haversack, Helmet, Bergen with issued contents 1,530.00 
			 Fluorescent light fittings 600.00 
			 Day sack containing military clothing 1,200.00 
			 SA80 components, lx live round and spent SA80 cartridges (1)— 
			 Radios 100.00 
			 Electrical cable 1,000.00 
			 Copper water tank 200.00 
			 Brass blanking cap 15.00 
			 Foul weather suit 200.00 
			 Combat boots, desert boots, rucksack 130.00 
			 Head torches 135.00 
			 Uniform shirts, general purpose respirator 400.00 
			 Brass hoses and couplings 2,000.00 
			 Ratchet, socket set, file set, cordless drill 70.00 
			 Boots, body armour, dry suits combat uniforms 5,470.00 
			 (1) Value not recorded 
		
	
	
		
			 June 2012 
			 Items reported as stolen Estimated value (£) 
			 Cash 571.00 
			 Binoculars 821.00 
			 Wheels, Tyres, Flat Kit, Valves 3,373.00 
			 Toolkit 541.00 
			 Copper piping 1,000.00 
			 Fuel 1,000.00 
			 Jacket, jumper 150.00 
			 Vacuum cleaner 70.00 
			 Bike 428.00 
			 Brass 500.00 
			 Socket set and pliers set 160.00 
			 Sleeping bag, Bergen rucksack 150.00 
			 Fire extinguishers 200.00 
			 Dry, chilled and frozen foods 800.00 
			 Saw 500.00 
			 Fire extinguisher 30.00 
			 Boots 150.00 
			 Body Armour and plates 134.00 
			 Sheets of Polythene foam 276.00 
			 Jackets 100.00 
			 Electrical testing kit (1)— 
			 Drill 160.00 
			 Axle Stands (1)— 
			 Computer and monitor 354.00 
			 Camcorder 350.00 
			 Helmet 100.00 
			 Computer drive unit 175.00 
			 Drill 188.00 
			 Water 12,718.00 
			 Lead flashing 250.00 
			 Ration packs 440.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Pony 500.00 
			 Fire safety gloves 63.00 
			 Helmets 300.00 
			 Combat Jacket, waterproof jacket, rucksack 350.00 
			 Bergen, Sleeping bag, Bivvy bag, suit 520.00 
			 Lead roofing 10,000.00 
			 Inner compartments for toolbox 100.00 
			 Rucksack, weapons cleaning kit, jackets, ear defenders 80.00 
			 Fuel 188.00 
			 Lead blocks (1)— 
			 Boilers 200.00 
			 Mobile Telephone 20.00 
			 5KG dumbbells 55.00 
			 Computer mouse 15.00 
			 Brass Hose Nozzle 100.00 
			 Indicator testing plug (1)— 
			 Jacket 60.00 
			 Flight deck helmet 170.00 
			 Copper and lead 200.00 
			 Scrap metal (1)— 
			 Queens Diamond Jubilee medal 150.00 
			 EZ bar and various weights 70.00 
			 Ration packs 620.00 
			 Laptop 400.00 
			 Silver rose bowl 245.00 
			 Chainsaw, circular saw 1,288.00 
			 Toolkit 659.00 
			 Mobile Telephone (1)— 
			 (1) Value not recorded 
		
	
	
		
			 July 2012 
			 Items reported as stolen Estimated value (£) 
			 wii console and controller 35.00 
			 Car seat assemblies, metal bar tools 560.00 
			 Gas meters 200.00 
			 Cash 18,000.00 
			 Trousers 170.00 
			 Scrap metal including old tools/tool boxes 275.00 
			 Camcorders and camera 1,000.00 
			 Drugs (1)— 
			 Women's jumper, Women's slacks, lanyard and scarf 95.00 
			 Uniform and medals 250.00 
			 Helmet 120.00 
			 Cap (1)— 
			 Laptop (1)— 
			 Generator (1)— 
			 Lead (1)— 
			 Drain covers (1)— 
			 Lead 5,000.00 
			 Keys 500.00 
			 Marine ply sheets (1)— 
			 Flight deck helmet (1)— 
			 Lead flashing 250.00 
			 Magazine pouches 40.00 
			 Oxygen gas analyzer (1)— 
			 (1 )Value not recorded 
		
	
	
		
			 August 2012 
			 Items reported as stolen Estimated value (£) 
			 Headsets (1)— 
			 Fuel (1)— 
			 Day sack 10.00 
			 Fuel 168.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Day sack 50.00 
			 Printer 150.00 
			 Fridge 108.00 
			 Lancers 80.00 
			 Bed quilt covers and polystyrene tiles (1)— 
			 Bag (1)— 
			 Aluminium fuel piping 12,000.00 
			 Helmets, footwear, clothing and GPS devices 160.00 
			 Bergen, boots and jacket 150.00 
			 Copper piping 1,000.00 
			 Various MOD clothing and equipment—rucksacks, combat clothing, boots, watches, batteries 5,000.00 
			 Copper cable and copper piping 4,000.00 
			 Copper boiler, radiators, fixtures and fittings 1,400.00 
			 Lead flashing and lead downpipe 200.00 
			 Tool bags and contents 400.00 
			 Toolkits, LCD Monitors 1,477.00 
			 Toolkit for repair of canvas 947.00 
			 Cash 750.00 
			 Ceiling spotlights 100.00 
			 Steel Wired Armoured Cable and Drum 4,000.00 
			 Weighbridge 200.00 
			 Ration Packs, Helmets, Visors, Gloves Torches. 2,900.00 
			 Brass from fire equipment, including nozzles, connectors, plugs and caps 2,480.00 
			 First aid bag and contents 50.00 
			 Electronic pulse monitor 186.00 
			 Holdalls 150.00 
			 Drill, carrier and batteries 130.00 
			 Periodicals (1)— 
			 Mess dress, Waterproofs, trainers 299.00 
			 Boots 50.00 
			 Copper roofing sheets 1,000.00 
			 Minor award vouchers 50.00 
			 Oximising battery conditioner 135.00 
			 Fuel 1,300.00 
			 Medical knee braces 2,000.00 
			 Sniper Belt and Mobile Pouches, Plate Carrier, Holster, disconnect kit, Knee pads 500.00 
			 Uniform trousers and jacket 150.00 
			 Tarpaulins from two 8 tonne vehicles 200.00 
			 Twin head pump sets 2,000.00 
			 Racing Bikes 1,200.00 
			 Electrical multimeters and carry cases 393.00 
			 Fuel and 18 Jerry cans 860.00 
			 Projector 1,364.00 
			 Respirator and rucksack 150.00 
			 Boots, sailing vest, multi tool 369.00 
			 Day sack 10.00 
			 Cylinder pouch 83.00 
			 800 watt solar panel 500.00 
			 Gloves, neoprene mask 70.00 
			 Fire extinguisher 50.00 
			 Work shoes 33.00 
			 Mobile Telephone 50.00 
			 Respirator, smock, combat shirt 107.00 
			 Copper piping 1,000.00 
			 Shirts, Windproof Smock, trousers (1)— 
			 Commanders pouch 260.00 
			 Oil burner unit 200.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Combat jackets, body armour and plates, helmet cover, boots, camelback , tropical uniform, jungle greens 960.00 
			 Microwave oven 50.00 
			 Military clothing (1)— 
			 Tyres and wheels 1,003.00 
			 Rifle and sight unit 1,166.00 
			 Aluminium 26,000.00 
			 Bowman equipment 8,853.00 
			 Sat Navs 160.00 
			 Chainsaw, welder, Welder's mask 300.00 
			 Paving slabs 138.00 
			 Padlocks 3,280.00 
			 Flag 270.00 
			 Bergen containing sleeping bag, helmet and jacket 250.00 
			 Major spills kit 1,200.00 
			 Toolbox 300.00 
			 Smock 100.00 
			 Drill 35.00 
			 Landrover battery 80.00 
			 Office clock 15.00 
			 Wood router 200.00 
			 Clothing and equipment including helmets 1,500.00 
			 Socks, Liner sleeping bag, Net washing, Field packs, Sleeping bag, Compression sack jungle, Shoes Service, Boots, Liner Jackets, combat Jackets 1,285.00 
			 (1) Value not recorded 
		
	
	
		
			 September 2012 
			 Items reported as stolen Estimated value (£) 
			 Copper piping and fittings 1,000.00 
			 Lead flashing 3,500.00 
			 Boots 160.00 
			 Outboard engines 25,233.00 
			 Camouflage trousers, camouflage shirts, camouflage jackets 380.00 
			 Galvanised shackles 20.00 
			 Steel wired armoured cable 2,000.00 
			 Sailing suits 200.00 
			 Generator 500.00 
			 Hallmarked Silver catering items, jugs, teapots, baskets etc. 6,500.00 
			 Fuel 599.00 
			 Metal detector 1,771.00 
			 Viewing kit 4,365.00 
			 Weights, kettle bells, medicine ball, push up swivel bars 159.00 
			 Diving helmets 20,958.00 
			 Flooring 100.00 
			 Respirators 5,380.00 
			 Sleeping tablets 5.00 
			 Ceremonial tunic (1)— 
			 Brass fire fighting fittings and equipment 1,900.00 
			 Navigational set 1,012.00 
			 Generator set and ancillary items 315.00 
			 9x9 shelter general purpose and ancillary items 535.00 
			 DVD, hi-fi and radio 125.00 
			 Sleeping bag, sleeping bag cover 55.00 
			 Copper (1)— 
			 Fuel 1,160.00 
			 Belt, Locket union, Drill Boots; Sleeping Bag; Trousers, Socks, T shirts, Bergan 242.00 
			 Body Armours, Helmets 1,447.00 
			 DVD/audio kit 1,364.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Helmet, Rifle cleaning kit, Water Bottle, Magazines; Ear defence, Jacket 205.00 
			 (1 )Value not recorded 
		
	
	This data does not include ongoing investigations as disclosing this information may jeopardise these investigations. The months listed refer to the month in which the case was closed.
	The loss of the Bowman equipment poses a minimal threat to security as the equipment cannot be used without additional user information.
	The Ministry of Defence takes the theft of equipment very seriously and works hard to detect and deter theft. There are robust processes in place to raise awareness of the need for vigilance in all aspects of security and we actively encourage individuals to report theft. This work has resulted in a rise in the number of reports over the last year.
	The military environment and supply chain represents a population of hundreds of thousands of people and many of the thefts identified will have taken place from areas open to the wider public. Reported theft represents only about 0.0015% of overall Defence assets.

Antisocial Behaviour

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of recorded crimes were offences of anti-social behaviour in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012 to date.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defined anti-social behaviour in law as 'acting in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household'.
	The police recorded crime statistics for England and Wales published by the ONS are based on notifiable offences. These include all offences that could possibly be tried by jury plus a few additional closely-related summary offences dealt with by magistrates, such as assault without injury.
	Anti-social behaviour is not a separate notifiable offence and, although the nature of many of these incidents are recognisable as crimes in law (such as littering or dog fouling), an 'ASB incident' is one where the level of severity is not deemed high enough to warrant the recording of a notifiable offence. Some anti-social behaviour will be recorded by the police as a notifiable offence if an incident is of sufficient severity, but will be included within a general offence category, such as harassment or criminal damage and cannot be separately identified.
	The Home Office collates statistics on incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded by the police, which are deemed not to be notifiable offences within recorded crime, which are published by the ONS on a quarterly basis in Table P14 within 'Crime statistics: Police force area data tables 2011-12—Crime in England and Wales, Quarterly First Release to March 2012' available from the link:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-265883

Pay

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will require the London living wage to be paid to cleaners working in his Department employed by contractors.

Francis Maude: It was not the practice of previous governments to require cleaners in this Department to be paid the London Living Wage.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much matched funding from the Rural Development Fund his Department will pay to farmers in 2012-13.

David Heath: We estimate that a total of £489 million will be paid to farmers under the Rural Development Programme for England in 2012-13. This consists of £118 million of DEFRA funding, matched with £371 million of EU funding. This estimate is based on the proportion of beneficiaries that are farmers and applying that to the current forecast of spend for 2012-13.

Agriculture: Young People

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that young people who wish to enter the farming industry receive necessary support.

David Heath: holding answer 29 November 2012
	The farming industry takes the lead in promoting itself to young people and supporting new entrants into the sector. The Government recognises that agriculture offers exciting opportunities for entrepreneurial and talented young people and is keen to support industry in encouraging people to take up careers in the agricultural industry.
	DEFRA is actively working with industry to create the right conditions to enable this to happen. These include supporting the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs through a grant, which is used for a range of activities including skills development. DEFRA also sits on a cross sector ‘Agri-Skills forum’, which focus, coordinate and influence skills issues.
	Government are also supportive of apprenticeships and has introduced the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers, which provides payments of £1,500 to support smaller employers taking on new young apprentices aged 16-24.
	DEFRA is currently determining how the future Common Agricultural Policy and in particular the design for the new Rural Development programme, can best be used to support young farmers and new entrants as they develop their businesses in the early years.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Chilterns

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Natural Capital Committee has advised the Government on the protection and enhancement of the Chilterns area of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The independent Natural Capital Committee has been established to provide independent expert advice on the state of English natural capital and in particular to:
	(i) provide advice on when, where and how natural assets are being used unsustainably;
	(ii) advise the Government on how it should prioritise action to protect and improve natural capital, so that public and private activity is focused where it will have the greatest impact on improving wellbeing in our society; and
	(iii) advise the Government on research priorities to improve future advice and decisions on protecting and enhancing natural capital.
	Committee members only have limited time available and therefore provide high level strategic advice rather than that relating to specific local issues.

Avian Pox

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to tackle the new strain of avian pox which reduces the survival of great tits especially juvenile birds.

David Heath: Avian pox in wild birds in the UK has been present for many years and affects many species of wild bird. The great tit is not a threatened wild bird species in Britain and so far evidence does not indicate that the new strain is any more virulent than existing ones. Thus, currently available data does not indicate that the new strain of the disease is at present likely to threaten the British (national) population of this species.
	Avian pox is a viral infection and (as with most viruses) there is no specific treatment for the disease. At present therefore, surveillance for the disease and mapping the distribution is the most appropriate scientific approach.
	Researchers working on avian pox in great tits are partners in the DEFRA funded GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership, delivering wildlife disease surveillance to Government. One of the partners, the DEFRA supported Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Diseases of Wildlife scheme, which has undertaken wildlife disease surveillance in England and Wales since 1998, is helping with this monitoring and has diagnosed cases of avian pox recently in birds submitted to its regional laboratories, in conjunction with one of the other partners, the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral contribution of the right hon. Member for North Shropshire of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 856, when he plans to place a note in the Library on the cost of preparations for the two cancelled badger culls.

David Heath: As promised by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), in his oral statement to the House on 23 October 2012, Official Report, columns 835-36, about bovine tuberculosis, the note, outlining the cost to Government of the preparations for the two badger control pilots has been placed in the Library of the House.

Fisheries: Africa

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to persuade the EU to (a) take action to prevent illegal fishing by EU-flagged fishing trawlers off the coast of Africa and (b) support more effective enforcement action against illegal fishing trawlers off the coast of Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 26 November 2012
	I fully support the implementation of the EU's Illegal Unregulated and Unreported Fishing Regulation and my Department works closely with the Commission in helping to ensure member states’ vessels comply with its provisions. I also welcome the Commission’s intention to review the regulation to consider whether further measures are needed.
	The UK has stringent controls in place to prevent the importation into the UK of illegal fish caught off the coast of Africa, and in fact have recently rejected consignments which did not comply with our controls. My officials are also members of the executive committee of the International Monitoring Control and Surveillance (IMCS) Network whose objective is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of monitoring control and surveillance through cooperation to combat IUU fishing. This includes providing support to less developed countries in Africa to assist in building enforcement capacity through exchange of expertise and knowledge and information sharing.
	In July 2012 the UK also jointly convened a capacity building workshop in Cape Town for African coastal states and regional organisations, aimed at improving countries’ ability to take effective enforcement action against illegal fishing.

Gangmasters

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many cases the Gangmasters Licensing Authority has brought to the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecution of people for being unlicensed gangmasters in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many prosecutions there have been for people being unlicensed gangmasters in each of the last three years;
	(3)  what the (a) shortest and (b) longest sentence received for being an unlicensed gangmaster is;
	(4)  what the average sentence is handed down to a person who has been prosecuted for being an unlicensed gangmaster.

David Heath: Figures on the number of prosecutions and convictions are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  England and Wales Scotland N. Ireland 
			  No. of files submitted to prosecuting authorities Convictions No. of files submitted to prosecuting authorities Convictions No. of files submitted to prosecuting authorities Convictions 
			 2010-11 23 5 5 4 4 2 
			 2011-12 7 6 2 5 2 0 
			 2012-13 5 4 1 3 3 2 
			 Note: Cases submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service or to the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland may take up to two years to come to court; therefore, the figures are not strictly comparable on a year to year basis. 
		
	
	Sentences:
	The courts have not yet handed down a custodial sentence. Sentences have included absolute discharge (3), fines, community service and probation orders, suspended sentences and the awarding of prosecution costs. It is not possible to arrive at an average sentence but the range of sentences across the nations of the UK is illustrated below:
	England and Wales: Fines between £300 and £5,000; Costs between £300 and £10,900; Community service orders between 140 and 200 hours; Disqualifications from holding directorship of two years and five years
	Scotland: Procurator Fiscal's Warning as alternative to trial; Fines between £200 and £2,500; Community service orders of 200 hours with 18-month probation
	Northern Ireland: Sentences ranging from absolute discharge to £750 fine plus costs; two cases awaiting sentence
	There have been additional, Police-led, investigations involving GLA offences. In some instances GLA offences have been set aside in favour of human trafficking charges.

Seas and Oceans: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had on the (a) procedural and (b) resource reasons for the changes to the timetable for Scotland's National Marine Plan.

Richard Benyon: The Marine and Coastal Access Act requires that a marine plan which includes provisions relating to retained functions may only be published with approval of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson).
	The timing of when the Scottish Government submits its National Marine Plan for approval is a matter for the Scottish Government.